Beginnings(14)

I jumped to my feet, “Adam!”

He cradled his head in his hands, “Make it stop! My head!”

I started making my way towards him, calling out his name in fear.

I fell to my knees in front of him, “Adam I'm here.”

For as long as I live, I will never forget the look on Adam's face when he lifted his head to look at me, the pain he felt was written all over. His skin was inflamed and his lips were turning blue, but his eyes were what frightened me the most. They looked wild, like a man on the brink of insanity.

And then he was gone.

“Adam...” I looked around frantic, “Adam!” I screamed. I got to my feet and starting turning around the room, using my eyes to search every corner.

“Adam!” Tears were starting to fall down my face.

“Ms. Monroe, what is going on?” Mr. Timmons started walking towards me with a concerned look on his face.

I pushed past him and ran out the door, “Adam!”

He wasn't outside.

I felt a hand grab my arm, “Anna, you're freaking everybody out. Who’s Adam?”

I tried to pull my arm away but Jeremy was too strong.

I could barely see him through my tears, “Let go! I need to find him!” I tried pulling harder.

“I think you should go see the nurse.”

My head was shaking wildly back and forth, “No, please I have to find him.” I was hysterical now. “Please let me go, he needs me.” I ferociously moved my body to get him to let go, but he had an iron grip. I stopped and took some deep breaths. “Please, Jeremy. Please let me go.” I tried to make my voice as calm as possible, “Please.” I felt his grip loosen and his hand fall to his side. I turned from him and started running towards home.

My lungs were bursting and my legs were growing weak but I refused to stop. I reached the door and realized my keys were in my backpack at school. I dropped to the ground on all fours and started turning over every rock in my aunt's garden. Where's the key! I ran to the side of the house and looked under a gnome. Not there. Think, where did your aunt say she hid it? I tried racking my brain, going over conversations we'd had. The rose bush! I ran to the rose bush and clawed my way through the dirt next to it until I found the box containing a spare key and some cash. I dropped the box and the cash, sprinting to the door. My hands were shaking as I tried to unlock the door, and I kept dropping the key. I finally got the door open.

“Adam!” I screamed down the hall, “Adam!” I took the stairs two at a time and entered my room panting, “Adam?” I could barely say his name as I was gasping for air.

He wasn't there. He's gone. Adam's gone. I dropped to my knees, defeated. He's really gone.

This had happened once before when we were ten. We had been climbing trees at the park when he looked at me and tried to cry out my name before falling from the tree. Just as he was about to hit the ground he was gone. I didn't see him for two days. Two horrible days.

I closed my eyes. He'll be back. He wouldn't leave me. No, Adam would never leave me. I felt my heart rate starting to go down and I took some deep breaths.

“He'll be back,” I said out loud to confirm with myself. Still on the floor, I crawled my way to Adam's chair and climbed up onto it. I put my head on the armrest and pulled my knees to my chin.

“He'll be back.”

I felt my eyes get heavy, but all I could see was Adam's tortured face and I started crying again.

I heard a knock on my door, and I opened my eyes. I must have fallen asleep because it was dark in my room.

The door slowly opened, “Anna?” My aunt's head peeked around the door.

“I'm here,” my voice was so hoarse I could barely get the words out.

She came into the room, “Your teacher called me at work and told me what happened, so did Haley. I hurried home to find my garden destroyed and the door wide open. I called Tom at work terrified. When he got here we came upstairs and found you asleep in your chair, covered in dirt, with tear smudges all over your face. Your uncle said we should leave you to rest, but I'm worried sweetie. You haven't moved in twelve hours.”

What? I darted my eyes to the alarm clock: ten-thirty. It felt like only minutes had passed.

“Anna, what happened?” I just stared at her. “Please say something, you're scaring me.”

“I'm fine, I just didn't sleep last night. I'm going to take a shower and then go to bed.” I got up, grabbed my pajamas, and went out the door, leaving my aunt still standing in my room staring after me.

The shower felt good. I let the hot water wash away the day. He'll be back, I just know it.





********





I stayed home from school the next day. My aunt didn't protest; I don't think she knew what to do with me. I ended up not going for the entire week, each day growing more depressed that Adam hadn't returned yet. I only left my bed to go to the the bathroom. My aunt would come up to bring me food, but I never ate more than a few bites. Haley peeked her head in a couple times, but she never said anything.